Sony DSLR-A350 vs Nikon D5000

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Sony DSLR-A350 vs Nikon D5000

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APS-C 369.7mm²
14.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Sony DSLR-A350 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the DSLR-A350.

APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D5000.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5100
Compare D5000 vs D5100
Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Nikon D5100

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Differences

Sony DSLR-A350 advantages over Nikon D5000

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

730 vs 510 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
105 mm vs 84 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Less shutter lag
0.19 vs 0.28 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
14.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Nikon D5000 advantages over Sony DSLR-A350

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5000 test data on DxO Mark DSLR-A350 test data on DxO Mark

868 vs 595 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Faster JPEG shooting
4.0 fps vs 2.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 3 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Neither provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

Read our Sony DSLR-A350 Full Review

Read our Nikon D5000 Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A200

Sony DSLR-A350

Sony DSLR-A200

$900
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Fast startup

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Sony DSLR-A200

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A200

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Tiltable Screen

$470
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A200

Compared to Canon XSi

Sony DSLR-A350

Canon XSi

$900
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$649
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Canon XSi

Nikon D5000

Canon XSi

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tiltable Screen

$649
APS-C

Less shutter lag

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Canon XSi

Compared to Samsung GX-20

Sony DSLR-A350

Samsung GX-20

$900
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$1400
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Samsung GX-20

Nikon D5000

Samsung GX-20

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$1400
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Top deck display

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Samsung GX-20

Compared to Sony DSLR-A300

Sony DSLR-A350

Sony DSLR-A300

$900
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
More pixels

$563
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A300

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$563
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A300

Compared to Sony DSLR-A390

Sony DSLR-A350

Sony DSLR-A390

$900
APS-C

Longer stills battery life
More telephoto lens reach

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
HDMI out

Compare Sony DSLR-A350 vs Sony DSLR-A390

Nikon D5000

Sony DSLR-A390

$850
APS-C

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$507
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5000 vs Sony DSLR-A390

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